Battery connecter



April'3, 19,34. F. H. RABE BATTERY C'ONNEC'I'ER Filed Nov. 4, 1931 rt en a aaiem l f f 1,953,821

unrrsosrArss "PATENT. OFFICE 1 BATTERY CONNECTER Fred H ltabe, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application November 4, 1931, Serial No. 572,942

7 Claims. (01. 173-259) The present invention relates broadly to the clamp 5 having a pivotal connection 6 with the art of electrical conductors, and more particuterminal member. The terminal member is prolarly to conductors of such character adapted to vided on one side thereof with a substantially be utilized as detachable connecters for storage semi-circular bearing portion '7 adapted to sur- 5 batteries and the like. round substantially one-half of a battery post, the

At the present time it is customary, more especlamp 5 comprising a substantially semi-circular cially with storage batteries as utilized for autoportion 8, the two portions when'in the position motive purposes, to provide the same either with. illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 being adapted to substantially cylindrical or substantially trunsubstantially completely embrace and surround cated cone shaped posts to which the desired terthe battery post with whicheonnection is to be 65 ,minals of the respective circuits are connected. made.

The connection is customarily made through the Inorder ,to make the structure as compact as medium of a deformable clamp employing a bolt possible, the meeting plane 9-9 between the or the like for drawing the parts of the clamp into portions -7 and 8 preferably not only extends firm electrical contact about the post. Due to the through the pivot 6, but at an angle to the loncorrosive action to which the parts are subjected, gitudinal 'axis of the terminal member 4, thereby ready removal of the terminals from the battery is .enabling the pivot 6 to be located closely ad made diillcult. jacent the cable axis. a

The present invention has for one of its objects The terminal member 4, which is convenientthe provision of a quickly detachable connecter ly in the form of a casting of lead, copper, or 5 embodying spring pressed parts which are efiecother suitable conducting material, is formed tively held-in yielding engagement about a batwith a recess 10 adapted to receive one end of tery post in such manner thatapplication and a cable 11. Extending in line with the recess removal ofthe connecter is facilitated. 10 is a second recess 12 forming a housing for 2 Another object of the invention is to provide 'a .a compression spring 14. The recesses 10 and 12 80 detachable connecter of the character referred are herein illustrated as being separated by a to of comparatively rigid and compact construcpartition or diaphragm 15 having a centering tion comprising a'minimum number of parts and projection 16 thereon for one end of the spring with the parts so disposed that those particularly 14. The opposite end of the spring is adapted to susceptible to corrosion are substantially enclosed surround a centering projection 17 on the han- 85 In accordance with the present invention, there direction about its pivotal mounting point and or housed. die portion 18 of the swinging-clamps. The In the accompanying drawing I have shown for projection 1'7 is herein illustrated as being carpurpose of illustration only, a preferred embodiried by a substantialy circular enlargement l9 ment of the invention. In the drawing: on the handle portion of the clamp, the outer. Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a diameter of. the portion 19 being such asto form battery having a connecter constructed in accordan approximate closure for the end of the recess ance with the present invention in cooperative re- 12. Adjacent its outer end, this last mentioned lation thereto; I e recess is provided with a slot 20- through which Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through a relatively narrow portion 21 o! the clamp henthe connecterof Figure 1 showing the position die is adapted to move, the slot being on the 95 of the parts when removed from a battery post; side of the connecter remote from the post en- Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the congaging portions 7 and 8. necter illustrated in Figure 2 looking at the left Projecting laterally from the member 4 is a hand end thereof as viewed in Figure 2; lug 22 providing a substantially flat face 23 in Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the conopposed substantially parallel relationship to the U9 necter of Figure 2; and outer face of the handle 18, thereby providing the line VV ot'Figure 2 looking inthe direcbetween fingers or a suitable tool for enabling tion ,0! the arro the clamp ,5 to be 'swimg in a counter-clockwise Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view along gripping extensions adapted to be engaged either is provided a connecter particularly adapted for. h reby m ve the p t 1 8881118 P r i n 7 n use with the terminal posts 2 of suitable storage '8 outwardly one withirespect to the other for batteries 3, although the utility oi! the invention releasing the post 2. 3 p

is not thus limited. Such a connecter preferably To those skilled in the art it will be apparent comprises a terminal member sand a swinging h t sprin 14. b s lected as to insure the 1 maintenance of the portions 7 and 8 in proper engagement. with a battery post and the establishment of a proper electrical connection therebetween; This electrical connection is further insured by the provision of circumferentially extending ribs 24 and 25 formed respectively on the portions '7 and 8, thus providing localized contact zones adapted to more effectively bite into the battery post and thus not. only insurea good electrical connection therebetween, but also minimize the possibility of loosening of this connection. This is particularly desirable in the case of tapered posts as herein illustrated, although the invention is equally applicable in connection with substantially cylindrical posts.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a detachable connecter comprising but two body members, one of which not only forms a terminal connecter, but a housing for an actuating spring, and the other of which forms a clamp and cover for the housing. Inasmuch as the construction is such that substantially half of the post is embraced by the portion 7 of the connectenan efiective current carrying path'of short length from the post to the cable 11 is provided. The location of the pivotal connection 6, made possible by reason of the angular meeting plane of the portions 7 and 8, precludes the use of relatively long lugs or brackets forming a mounting for the pivot pin itself.

Further advantages arise from the provision of a terminal member of such structure as to provide a cable receiving recess and spring housing therein in substantially axial alinement, thus reducing the over-all diameter of this member.

Further advantages arise from the provision of an actuating spring having its efi'ective axis angularly disposed relatively to the meeting plane between the post engaging clamps whereby the post itself cooperates with the spring in maintaining the clamping portions in the desired relationship to the post.

While I have herein illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that changes in the construction, contour and relationship of the parts may be made without departing either from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

- I claim:

housed within said recess, a swinging clamp pivotally connected to said member and normally urged intoyclamping engagement therewithby said spring, said clamp having a handle portion projecting therefrom in opposed relationship to said lug and forming with said lug compressing means for' said spring, said clamp further forming a closure for said spring recess. 3. A detachable connecter for batteries comprising a split member with the portions pivoted to each other, said portions together defining a cylindrical opening adapted to receivea battery post, one portion of said split member having an enlargement recessed to receive a cable end and recessed to house a spring, and a spring therein for urging the portions of the member into clamping engagement with the Oppo ite sides of the post, the recess housing the spring being adjacent the pivot between said portions and the cable recess being remote from said pivot.

4. A dc hable connecter for batteries, including a terminal member having a recess for permitting a battery post to be partially set into said member, a swinging clamp pivotally connected to said member, a cable connected to said member on the opposite side of said recess from the pivot of said clamp, and a coil spring for normally urging the clamp into engagement with the opposite side of the post from said member, said member having a cylindrical recess therein housing said spring and conforming substantially to the overall dimensions of the spring, and said clamp forming a closure for one end of said spring recess.

5. A detachable connecter for batteries, including a terminal member having a cable receiving recess in one end thereof, a spring receiving recess in the opposite end thereof, said recesses being cylindrical and in substantially axial alignment, a post receiving recess for permitting a battery post to be partially set into said member, a compression spring in said spring recess, and a swinging clamp pivotally connected to said member with the axis of the pivot on the opposite side of the post recess from the cable recess, said clamp being normally urged pivotally into clamping engagement with the opposite side of the post from said member by said spring.

8. A detachable connecter for batteries, including a terminal member having a cable receiving recess, a spring receiving recess, a post receiving recess for permitting a battery post to be partially set into said member, a compression spring in said spring recess, and a swinging clamp pivotally connected to said member with the axis of the pivot on the opposite side of the post recess from the cable recess, said clamp being normally urged into clamping engagement with the opposite side of the post from said member by said spring, said clamp having a portion overlying the end of said springrecess and engaged by said compression spring.

7. A detachable connecter for batteries, including a terminal-member having a recess for receiving one side of a battery post, a swinging clamp having a contact portion for engaging the other side of the post, a cable connected to said member on the opposite side of said recess from the pivot of said clamp, a cylindrical recess in said terminal member on an axis angularly related to the meeting plane of the terminal member and swinging clamp, and a compression spring housed within said cylindrical recess for normally urging the clamp into engagement with the post. I

FRED H. RABE.

MCI] 

